A mosque chairman who hailed the founder of Hamas as a “master of the martyrs of resistance” attended a buffet meal hosted by the Metropolitan police commisioner.

In July, Mohammed Kozbar attended the London Muslim Communities Forum event alongside senior Met police officers, the Sunday Telegraph reported.

Kozbar, who is also the deputy secretary of the Muslim Council of Britain, visited the grave of Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in 2015.

At the time, Kozbar praised him as “the master of the martyrs of resistance, the mujahid [holy warrior] sheikh, the teacher”. He also met senior Hamas leaders. 

Also attending the meeting was Attiq Malik, who led the LMCF until the Sunday Telegraph published footage of the activist chanting “from the river to the sea” and railing against “global censorship by the Zionists”.

In a statement at the time, the Met said Malik had “expressed views in a way which does not align to the Met’s values.”

They added: “We regularly engage with a whole range of community groups, many of which hold strongly opposing views. It is important that we continue to listen to opposing views. This is how we put community voices at the heart of policing London.

“This instance has highlighted past language and views expressed by Attiq Malik that appear antisemitic and contrary with our values. As a result we will be immediately ceasing our relationship with Mr Malik whilst we investigate."

Malik left the LMCF in the wake of the exposé. 
Kozbar, who is also general secretary of Finsbury Park Mosque in North London, also met Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh — Gaza’s ex-prime minister — and its hardline former foreign policy chief Mahmoud al-Zahar during his trip to the Middle East.

In 2011, Kozbar was filmed speaking at a pro-Palestine rally in London declaring that he looked forward to "the end of Israel, inshallah."

Scotland Yard told the Sunday Telegraph: “We can confirm that Mr Mohammed Kozbar is a member of the London Muslim Communities Forum [LMCF].”

A spokesman for the MCB previously told the JC that any suggestions Kozbar supported violence or antisemitism wwere “smears”.

The mosque chairman insisted he was committed to working with “Jewish friends” to fight Islamophobia and antisemitism.

The Metropolitan police have been contacted for comment.